Traffic signaling device support



Jan. 4, 1949. c. RYDER 2,458,482

TRAFFIC SIGNALING DEVICE SUPPORT Filed May 10, 1947 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 4, 1949 TRAFFIC SIGNALING DEVICE SUPPORT Charles D. Ryder, Covington, Ky., assignor to The Grote Manufacturing Company, Bellevue, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application May 10, 1947, Serial No. 747,279

. 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a highway traflic signalling device and particularly to a portable signal adapted to be stationed as upon the highway in proximity to an obstruction for visibility by and as a warning to the motorists of approaching traflic in either of opposite directions of the existing obstruction.

Many highways are of insuflicient width and from which it is not feasible or advisable to transport a vehicle, particularly heavily laden trucks, to park the same in ample clearance of the road, as when necessary to park the same for repairs or other exigencies without creating a traflic hazard, necessitating some form of signalling service and obligatory to warn other vehicle operators of the existing obstruction.

It is an object of the invention to provide an efficient and portable signal, that can be stationed to reflect light rays, as emanating from the head lamps of approaching vehicles in either of alternate directions 'of travel, as a warning or precaution to the occupants of those vehicles of the location of an existing obstruction.

Another object is to provide a pair of light reflecting panels of duplicate structure opposingly arranged to signal and reflect light from relatively opposite directions, each consisting of an open side casing for mounting and housing light reflecting buttons, the casings hingedly mounted upon a holder which alternately serves as a base to station and sustain the panels in an upright or perpendicular position for signalling service and into which the panels can be folded for compactness and portability of the unit and complete encasement of the light reflecting buttons for their protection against breakage or injury, being of fragile composition, as a glass-like product.

Various other features and advantages of the invention are more fully set forth in and apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment as illustrated by the drawings accompanied herewith and forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the signalling device in an erected position.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the unit in a knockdown or folded condition for portability and storage.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5, 5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6, 6, Figure 2, of one of the panels.

Referring to the drawings I, I, indicates a pair of panels of duplicate construction, each of elongated pan form with curved or rounded opposite ends. Each panel is formed of a single sheet of metal, pressed or shaped to provide a lateral flange as a bordering rim 2 for stability and produce an open sided casing structure to recessively embody light reflecting means, preferably as a pair of reflectors 3, 3.

The reflectors or lenses 3, 3, are of conventional construction preferably of colored, as red, moldable plastic material, which permits of greater sharpness for the prismatic formation for the base or reverse side of the lens for superior and greater density of light reflection. The lens has a smooth arc surfaced face side with prismatic formation upon the base side for the reflection or refraction of light rays directed against the face side. The reflector or lens is preferably of circular outline having a bezel form of rim or annular flange for making a clip binding connection to mount or secure the lens within the panel and upon the base thereof. The lenses are of appropriate diameter to arrange a pair in axial alignment each having a portion of its rim snugly embraced and contacted relatively by a respective curved flange portion of an end of the panel and clipped thereto by a tang 4 punched from and bent inward from the flange or rim. Additionally the two lenses are jointly clamped to the base of the panel by a washer 5 disposed centrally intermediate thereof and having a bearing contact with the annular rim flange of each and secured by a screw bolt 6, traversing the washer and base of the panel with the head of the screw countersunk in the panel base.

One end of each panel has a bracket 1, of U- form, fixed thereto, with its Web or cross bar portion curved for a mating union with the curved portion of the rim for one end of the panel and to which the web of the bracket is riveted. The limbs 8, 8, of the bracket 1, relatively extend in a common plane respectively tangentially from opposite sides of the curved end of the panel and extensive therefrom.

The limbs 8, 8, of the bracket 1 are respectively pivotally connected each to an end ofa relative limb of a U-shaped frame 9, formed of strip or bar metal, which when the panels are in an erected position extend laterally therefrom adapting the frame 9 to serve as a foot to sustain and station the panels in a perpendicular position upon the ground or roadway.

The pivotal connections of the brackets of the two panels with the frame 9 are relatively staggered both cross-wise and lengthwise of the limbs of the frame, permitting the panels to be swung within the frame longitudinally thereof and in adjacent parallelism with their open sides, which expose the reflectors, opposing and in registry and the base of each panel outward thereby combining to completely house and encase the reflectors. The reflectors are thus amply protected against breakage and the frame 9 protects the rims of the panels.

A split ring spring washer I0 is interposed between each pivotal connection of the panels and frame 9, traversed by the rivet making the pivotal connection which provides suflicient frictional resistance to hold the panels in their erected or any adjusted position upon the frame and when stationed in a perpendicular position the unit cannot be collapsed by the average wind pressure.

The panels can also be positioned outwardly in alignment with the frame to suspend the unit upon the vehicle or support and the frame also serves as a handle for manual signalling.

The base of each panel has a pair of apertures H, H, therethrough intermediate of the reflectors, thereby providing for a finger hold to swing the panels outwardly from within the frame and which also serve as wind passages in the erected position of the panels.

One of the panels as shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a bracket [2 applied to the rim intermediate of the reflectors for socketing a staff of a flag for daylight signalling.

It is obvious that the frame 9 can be oblong and curvilinear design, either integral or sectional, the sections pivotally connected to fold the same into a telescopic assembly to extend from opposite sides of the panels in an erected condition of the unit for an increased footing, it however adds cost and tends to make the unit cumbersome.

In the event that high winds prevail during the use of the device it can be stationed so that the panel foremost from the cross bar end of the frame faces the wind as its pivotal movement from the perpendicular position in one direction is limited by the second panel which serves as a stop. The bow form of foot frame, with the panels hingedly or pivotally connected to the free ends thereof, provides a substantial footing for the panels in their erected or active positions. aside from permitting the panels to be compactly telescopically stored therein, simplifies manufacture and assembly of the parts, offers low cost production and facilitates for easy and quick erection for service or compact collapse for storage.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A road signal of the character disclosed embodying a base member of strip material in bow form and a pair of panels, each for reflecting light directed thereat for signal service, pivotally connected to and between the limbs of the base member adapting the same tobe positioned in adjoining relation to extend perpendicularly from the base member for light reflection in relative opposite directions and alternately to telescopically pack the same within the base member.

CHARLES D. RYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,235,282 Carver Mar. 18, 1941 2,256,014 Carver Sept. 16, 1941 

